Wales to get car-free roads?

Proposals for car-free housing developments in Wales will be discussed by Assembly Ministers in a special debate today.

According to new research the number of children playing out on the streets has plummeted from 75 per cent to 15 per cent between 1973 and 2006. The planned car-free streets are intended to combat those falling figures and reverse the decline.

Keith Towler, Children’s Commissioner, will chair the discussion – set up by Sustrans and Play Wales.

“The lack of opportunity for children to play safely in their own street is causing an obesity epidemic which puts Wales near the top of the world’s fat league tables,” said Sustrans director Lee Waters.

“Too many urban areas are clogged by traffic when they could be safe public spaces where children can play safely outside their front doors and travel independently.”